Tom Clancy

Lynx

Lynx

Lynx

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Any fans of Tom Clancy out there? I know a lot of people here might have played the games with his name tagged on, but was wondering if anyone actually liked reading his novels?

I recently read Hunt for Red October, very much enjoyed it even though I saw the film adaptation of it previously. Starting to read Red Storm Rising, really getting into it!
 
I enjoyed his earlier stuff. However, he seems to have disappeared up his own arse several years ago. I haven't read his last one, but the 2 or 3 before that were not particularly great.
 
Yeah I was thinking of starting off with the earlier books after I finish Red Storm Rising. I can get Patriot Games and Without Remorse off a friend (he's the one who's got me into Clancy really), so I might just go with one of those.
 
Yup.

I'd personally stop after Red Rabbit, his later books haven't been good.

Also, avoid the Op Centre, Power Plays and Netforce series of books. They're absolute guff.
 
Moses said:
I think there are numerous Clancy novels which are written by other people, but just have his name on, but I try and avoid them. I really enjoyed Rainbow Six, Without Remorse is one of my favourite books of all time, I seem to recall enjoying The Bear and the Dragon... err, and then my memory's hazy!

I'd certainly recommend those three, in particular... but you can't really go wrong with any earlier books, as Tribune says.
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i know he did this with the games, started having an involvement then just sold his name to ea or ubisoft iirc and they can put it on any game they like now.

didn't know he'd done it with books though.
 
just ordered rainbow six and hunt for red october for less than £4 in total!

Reading Sharpe's enemy and have the Man in the high castle after that before I get a chance to read them. 2nd hand books online are an absolute steal!
 
Sadly I think he should have stopped the Ryan-Verse at The Bear and the Dragon. I really like Rainbow Six but it could have been a separate story and still been as good (Like Red Storm Rising). Everything after that goes down hill rapidly (Hmmm the hero is getting old, better draft in his Kids!!!! - Clive Cussler did the same thing and that failed to for me)
 
Tribune said:
I enjoyed his earlier stuff. However, he seems to have disappeared up his own arse several years ago. I haven't read his last one, but the 2 or 3 before that were not particularly great.
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this tbh. :)
In the spring i decided to read most of the Tom Clancy novels in order.
everything upto Rainbow 6 is excellent with my favourite 2 being Without Remorse and Cardinal of the Kremlin.

didnt really enjoy any of the later stuff like bear and dragon, red rabbit etc..

DO NOT TOUCH any of the silly op centre rubbish. they are pants :(

Bibliography

The Hunt for Red October (1984)
Red Storm Rising (1986)
Patriot Games (1987)
The Cardinal of the Kremlin (1988)
Clear and Present Danger (1989)
The Sum of All Fears (1991)
Without Remorse (1993) (read early if poss. as its set in the 70's)
Debt of Honor (1994)
Executive Orders (1996)

Meh from now on :)

Rainbow Six (1998)
The Bear and the Dragon (2000)
Red Rabbit (2002)
The Teeth of the Tiger (2003)
 
j.col said:
this tbh. :)
In the spring i decided to read most of the Tom Clancy novels in order.
everything upto Rainbow 6 is excellent with my favourite 2 being Without Remorse and Cardinal of the Kremlin.

didnt really enjoy any of the later stuff like bear and dragon, red rabbit etc..

DO NOT TOUCH any of the silly op centre rubbish. they are pants :(

Bibliography

The Hunt for Red October (1984)
Red Storm Rising (1986)
Patriot Games (1987)
The Cardinal of the Kremlin (1988)
Clear and Present Danger (1989)
The Sum of All Fears (1991)
Without Remorse (1993) (read early if poss. as its set in the 70's)
Debt of Honor (1994)
Executive Orders (1996)

Meh from now on :)

Rainbow Six (1998)
The Bear and the Dragon (2000)
Red Rabbit (2002)
The Teeth of the Tiger (2003)
Click to expand...

Oh is Without Remorse set before the other books then, a prequel of sorts then? I would much prefer to read the Jack Ryan books in order if possible from now, even though I've already finished Red October!

Seems like everyone is saying the same thing otherwise, read the earlier books :)
 
Without Remorse is the Clancy book I always recommend to newcomers, because it has arguably the least convoluted plot (i.e. it doesn't jump as round between locations as much and has more of a primary plot focus - I'm not saying that makes it better, just easier to follow for newbies!). It is also an excellent read and probably one of my 3 favourite along with Red Storm Rising and Clear and Present Danger. I've read them all at least 3 times.

Personally I found The Sum of All Fears very slow (even by Clancy standards) and the Cardinal of the Kremlin quite boring. This was about 15 years ago though so maybe they deserve another chance. I think Debt of Honour and Executive ORders probably deserve another read though.
 
Have to agree about Cardinal of the Kremlin. Felt it very slow and drawn out. Seemed more about politics and very little action.

I recently re-read Debt of honour and it's still very good but i also agree that the latest books are missing something. Executive Orders and Rainbow Six are very good though.
 
Only read his early ones, but they are great, sprawling man-books.

Red October, Red Storm Rising and Rainbow Six. Never managed to complete the Bear & the Dragon, though for some reason.
 
I loved reading his books and started to lose interest with The Teeth of the Tiger which had Jack Ryan junior in it. It all started going downhill after that. The Op-Center and Net Force ones were lousy and I gave up at that point.
 
Red Storm Rising and the Jack Ryan novels are enjoyable reads. I felt Clancy lost it somewhat whoring his name out to second rate, written with Hollywood in mind novels like the Op-Centre series.

The last Tom Clancy novel I read was called The Teeth of the Tiger - his first since 9/11 I think. Thought it was OK but also different with the protagonists being quite morally dubious - which is fine if that's the intent but I got the impression the author thought they were still the good guys ala Jack Ryan.
 
Used to read these as a kid, pretty good and quite engrossing. Haven't read any of them for a while.

My teachers were a bit miffed when I took in his big red one in Primary 7 for 'silent reading'.
 
Most of his early stuff was fantastic - very good read. Red Storm Rising was particularly good.

The films don't do justice to the books at all, Red October comes close-ish.
 
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